A NORTHERN Irish songwriter who played at the Brewery in support of Lanterns on the Lake has is set to release his latest album on December 9.

Ciaran Lavery recorded Live At The Mac was recorded at his landmark show in Belfast last December.

Playing with a string three piece, Ciaran performed a set featuring a host of his best known songs, as well as a number of covers including ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’, ‘Streets Of Philadelphia’ and ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’.

Lavery's skill as a songwriter was recognised earlier this year, when he won the Northern Ireland Music Prize for 2016.

He is on tour in the UK this December in support of the release, ably supported by a string section. His performance at the Brewery on November 30 was part of this tour.

The new record comes off the back of an impressive year for Lavery. Austin festival SXSW was a highlight, where a performance on the Spotify House stage garnered significant attention.

Ciaran has also supported American singer-songwriter William Fitzsimmons across Europe around the release of previous LP 'Let Bad In'.

Sonically Live At The Mac finds Lavery on top form. His vocals match perfectly with the string section brought in for the show.

Standout tracks on the release include ‘Tell Them All’, a heartfelt lullaby of a song, and his cover of Springsteen’s ‘Streets Of Philadelphia’. The latter finds Lavery capturing the emotional sensitivity of Springsteen’s original.

In 2014, Lavery’s 'Kosher EP' and 'Not Nearly Dark' album achieved international recognition when the tracks 'Shame' and 'Left For America' racked up more than 29 million listens on Spotify, on which he now has upwards of 50 million plays.

Following this attention, Lavery was nominated for the Northern Ireland Music Prize alongside Soak and in 2015 won the Big Break, a search for Ireland’s hottest talent, set up by Hot Press magazine.

Live At The Mac is the next step in his career and adds to the Ciaran Lavery back catalogue.